Page 40 - The Indian EYE 071522

SPORTS JULY 08, 2022 | The Indian Eye 40

INDIA-ENGLAND TEST

How England snatched a victory from

the jaws of almost certain defeat

We wanted India to get 450-run lead to see how things will play out: Ben Stokes following win in Edgbaston Test

(76*) and Bairstow (72*) standing
OUR BUREAU
tall. Indians were left clueless by the
Edgbaston determination and strokeplay of both
in-form batters.
ollowing his side’s seven-wicket England resumed things off after
win over India in the fifth Test,
FEngland captain Ben Stokes Tea at 107/1, with opener Alex Lees
(56*) and Ollie Pope (0*) standing
said that his team wanted India to unbeaten at the crease.
secure a 450-run lead in the game to India got an early wicket in the
see how things will play out. first over after Tea as Jasprit Bumrah
A 269-run partnership between
Root and Bairstow helped England sent back Pope to the pavilion for a
three-ball duck after wicketkeeper
create history, with the side complet- Rishabh Pant successfully caught the
ing their highest successful run chase ball which hit the edge of his bat.
ever in the longest format of the game In the next over, Lees was run
with a seven-wicket win over India at out by the pair of Mohammed Sha-
Edgbaston in Birmingham. England mi and Ravindra Jadeja. England
was able to successfully chase down lost their third wicket at a score of
the target of 378 runs set by India. 109 runs. After this, the in-form duo
This win comes after England was of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow re-
bundled out for 284 in their first in- sumed the chase for their side. The
nings, trailing by 132 runs after India duo formed a fifty-run partnership.
posted 416 in their first innings. India Root-Bairstow continued to inflict
was bundled out for 245 in the third punishment on Indian bowlers, sud-
innings of the match setting a target England’s Ben Stokes and Joe Root celebrate after winning the 5th Test match against India, at denly shifting things more in En-
of 378 for England to win. gland’s favour.
With this, England levelled the Edgbaston Stadium, in Birmingham (ANI Photo/England Cricket Twitter)
A hundred-run stand was up
series 2-2, denying India their first between Bairstow and Root in 141
series win on English soil since 2007. the best in the world, was emphatic. Bairstow (72*). balls. Indian bowlers could find no
They have also completed the most It was awesome to watch. Root and The duo’s strokeplay and deter- answer to the batting of these two
successful run chase at Edgbaston. Bairstow continued with the momen- mination did not change on the final as they kept piling up runs. Both
India has also been handed over their tum provided by them,” he added. day as they continued punishing the brought up their half-centuries and
first Test loss while defending a total Stokes also admitted that watch- Indian bowlers from the start. They also completed their 150-run stand in
of 350 or more. ing Rishabh Pant score his century completed their 200-run and 250- 196 balls.
“We wanted to see them get a
Root-Bairstow made sure that
450-run lead to see how things will was amazing though even though his run partnership without breaking a their team walked out of the final
sweat. Bairstow and Root contin-
side was on the receiving end.
play out,” said Stokes in a press con- “He has got his criticism all over ued their purple patch with the bat, session without any further damage,
ference. the years, but he is getting applauded reaching their 12th and 28th Test needing 119 runs to win and level the
When you get clarity as to how to
play with a bat or a ball, it makes our now. The negativity around that way tons respectively. It was Root who hit series.
of Test cricket will soon die out be-
Earlier before Tea, England
Jadeja for the winning single in the
jobs easier. Cricket is about taking 20 cause it is exciting to watch. Cricket is 78th over of the game. openers Alex Lees and Zak Craw-
wickets and outscoring your oppo- entertainment at the end of the day. England finished off at 378/3, ley struck a century partnership af-
nent,” he added. You want results, but also want the with Root (142*) and Bairstow ter captain Ben Stokes led from the
Stokes said that Rishabh Pant’s
fall for 57 at the hands of spinner crowd to enjoy,” he added. (114*) standing tall. front taking four wickets to bowl out
India for 245 in the second innings as
The captain said that the side
A 150-run stand between Jonny
Jack Leach was the turning point of has had unbelievable support from Bairstow and Joe Root helped turn the visitors set a 378-run target for
the match. “That was huge for us. We the fans no matter what the team is things in favour of England at the the hosts.
know what he can do, how he plays going through. “It has been thrilling end of the final session of Day Four Resuming the post-lunch session
his game. He could take it away from to watch with both bat in hand or ball of the ongoing fifth and final Test at 229/7 India lost Mohammed Sha-
us quickly. So getting him for a fif- in hand,” he added. against India at Edgbaston in Bir- mi in the fourth ball of the Tea ses-
ty was a huge part of the game. Of Coming to the match, England mingham on Monday. sion as English captain Ben Stokes
course, a chase starts with openers. started off things on the final day at At the end of the day’s play, En- dismissed him for 13. From there on
The way they played against Jasprit 259/3, with Joe Root (76*) and Jonny gland’s score read 259/3, with Root
Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, Continued at next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE.com